2014 Dopey Challenge Day 1: Family Fun Run Race Recap

If you haven't read my Expo Recap Post, here is the link.

At 5am I woke up to -"Got Myself a notion...One I'll Know that You'll Understand, Set The World In Motion...By Reaching Out For Each Other's Hand". Yeah that's right I The Goofy Movie's Powerline as my alarm. To me there's not a better way to wake up in Disney World and get ready for a race then to here one of your favorite songs.

By the end of the song I was up, dressed and ready for pre-race meal of oatmeal. Ruffly about 5:15am my Mom and I was out the door. I know last year I said I was going to dress up for the race, but sadly there wasn't enough room in my budget to make the customs I was dreaming of...Maybe next year.

Many of you who have ran a rundisney event are probably asking "Why did I wake and leave so late?" Well, I was continuing the same plan from last year and I was expecting to be dropped off across the street from my corral. With the recent events of the Boston Marathon RunDisney definitely increase the security which meant everyone runner had to enter in one place and go through a bag check. Unfortunately I must have missed the note and didn't realize until we pulled up and the were a number of police officers informing us about were to go. I felt like I had to be the only one until one of the officers ask we mind giving another runner a lift to the start line. We agreed. When he hopped in the car he told us that he stayed at Disney's Port Orleans Resort, which is so close to the start line you hear the music, but they were going to make him walk the long way to get there. All for safety right?

After we got dropped of the entrance we talked for a little while longer, wished each other a good race and jogged to our starting corral. It wasn't to long after I made it to my corral the countdown begun 3.....2.....1 and we're off.

 The Start

 It wasn't long before the first Character Photo Op.....Flik from A Bug's Life

 On the way to Epcot

 Daisy Duck

 As soon as I entered Epcot it started to rain lightly but that definitely didn't take away from the awesome landscape of the park in the morning.  There was also a Dopey Character Op but the line was Sooooo long, I really didn't understand why RunDisney would choose to have him in the family fun run with 7000 Dopey runners. They had to know that the line for photos were going to be ridiculously long.

 Remy & Emile From Ratatouille

 Spaceship Earth

After seeing Spaceship and the third mile marker the finish line was only around the corner and to my first of six medals for the weekend.



 This was my first time running a 5k as a rundisney event and I have to say I was a little disappointed with the number of characters on the route. I know it was only 3.2 miles but I was expecting more then 3-4 with this being the first event of the Dopey Challenge.

Besides weaving around the people who decided to walk in groups four lines wide, I had fun, I mean, Is it really possible to not have fun running through a Disney park? So, with one race down and 45.4 more miles to go I gather my after race box and headed to the outlets for some shopping.

Check out my video recap on YouTube or click the link below.

3 Reasons Why RunDisney picked Avengers

Yesterday RunDisney had a Big announcement make of new race. Looking at some of the RunDisney fans Facebook groups many were hopping for a Star Wars Race around Star Wars Weekend  or an added 10k to the Wine and Dine weekend. Well, they ultimately went the route of the superheroes and choose the their Marvel smash hit The Avengers for a Super Heroes Half Marathon.

I wanted to take this post and give 3 reasons why I feel RunDisney picked the Avengers as the next race theme.

1.Location

One of the top clues for the race was that it was going to announced at pacific standard time, so that meant it was going to be a Disneyland race. Now even thou Disney owns the rights to Marvel, they do not owns the rights to them in Theme parks in the Orlando. With Islands of Adventure Theme Park, Universal Studios owns the rights to 8 of the key Marvel characters with in a 250 mile radius of Orlando. The contract will stay with Universal until:Universal stops paying the renewal fee or until Disney throws some unseen amount a money at the to buy them out. But never fear....Disney has already started the plans of bringing Marvel into its others locations outside of Orlando, with:

Tony Stark Tech Expo (Iron Man 3 Expo) at Disneyland 

 

Thor: Treasures of Asgard (Thor: The Dark World Expo) at Disneyland

 

 Marvel Avengers Academy on Disney Magic Cruise

 

 New Ride coming to Hong Kong Disneyland

 

I know! I know! Disney also owns Stars Wars. Well with Disney World having Star Wars Weekends spanning over 5 weeks also with the plans of building a Star Wars Land coming to Disney's World's Hollywood Studios as well as Disneyland Remodeling Tomorrowland Based on Star Wars, I think they may want to wait until one or the other is almost finish to have a Star Wars race. By them waiting for the one if not both parks to be finish I feel they could greatly increase the weekend by having a Half and a Full Marathon and creating a special coast to coast Star Wars Medal (I would love to see that!).

 

 

 



2. Timing

With the Box office SMASH HIT The Avengers and the Highly anticipated sequel  Avengers: the Age of Ultron set to be released May 1, 2015, Marvel is set to continue it dominance of the box office.

With the November Avengers race at Disneyland they're able to start the promotion in a Huge way. Why not bring in a new Avengers Style Expo to the Parks the same weekend of the race, or maybe even debut a brand new trailer to other Marvel related movies or Why not just turn race weekend into Disney's personal version of Comic Con.

3. Fans

If you've been to the a RunDisney event, you see not only runners but runners in customs. Some of the most popular customs (well at least a the Marathon Race Weekend) other than Disney characters, has been superheroes. Whether their Marvel or DC superheroes and their tons of them and as a big superhero fan myself who wouldn't want to run a race where you can take picture with some of your favorites as well as....Maybe even some of your favorite Disney characters dress up as their favorites.

Once again these are just a few reasons why I believe Disney picked Avengers as the next RunDisney race and by no way are these actual facts provided by RunDisney or Disney companies, just my own opinions.

What are your opinion of Rundisney's choice and what do you think will be the next race?

2014 Disney World Marathon Recap: Expo

 

I know it has taken me while to post these recaps of the 2014 Disney World Marathon Weekend but, I have been busy with moving to Florida for a new chapter in my life. So without further delay, my recaps of the Inaugural Dopey Challenge….

Unlike last year my family and I decided to turn the race weekend into a whole week since I was participating in the Dopey Challenge for 4 days, this gave me a full day to explore and enjoy myself at the expo.

Disney's Health & Fitness Expo

Wednesday, January 8, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Thursday, January 9, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Friday, January 10, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 11, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Arriving at the expo I wanting to get my packet and race bib first so I when I actually made it to the Expo building I would be free to goof around and visit every booth. I arrive around 2 on Wednesday, I must say it felt like the perfect time to go. We went straight to the HP field house where Picket pick up was a breeze, I was able to my pre order Dopey pin with no problems and I was off to play around. Leaving the Field house we made a hard right to the Champion baseball field where the had some of the expo booths set up. This where you could find Packet pick up for the kids races, Dooney and Bourke Rundisney items, Registration for the limited edition New Balance rundisney collection, many other  vendor booths, but the one thing that caught my eye and was probably the only thing I really had to wait for the weekend (besides the Character Picture) was this....

Yes a Caricature!!! Disney had two Artist drawing Pictures for anyone who wanted one...Two Thumbs up Disney!!!After I received my awesome picture off to the main event...The Jostens Center for the Health and Fitness Expo.

The Expo was set up very similar to last year except the stage for the Expo Speakers was set up next to the ESPN restaurant up stairs. Before you could make your way to the back to pick up shirts, you had to past by Huge New Balance Booth.

Just like last year New Balance released limited edition rundisney shoes, but this year they turned it up a notch with 4 new shoes designs: Goofy , Cinderella, Sorcerer Mickey
and  Pink Minnie, which the Mickey and Minnie are both available in  Adult and Kid Sizes.

After the New Balance booth off to the back to complete my collection of shirts...

The shirts are great this year, I actually like them so much that I wore a different one every day I was down there. So, Race Bib....Check!, Race T-Shits.... Check! Rundisney shopping...Check! So, What's next.... Time to play around....

 

 

 

This year I decided to do something a little different and make of video of every race and....drum roll please...the expo as well!!! Check out the video below and think me what you think. Also stay tune for the rest of recap to this awesome weekend.

 

A Look Back at My 2013 Disney World Marathon Weekend Videos

With the 2014 Walt Disney World Weekend  being only 30 days away, I want to post a collection of videos that I've on my first ever runDisney experience. Enjoy...I'll see all of you there for the 2014 Dopey Challenge.

 Start Of the 2013 Disney World Half Marathon Rock'in out With Donald

 

2013 Disney World Half Marathon [HD]

 

2013 Disney World Marathon [HD]

September/ October StrideBox Review

September Stride Box Review

Fuel 100- Electro-Bites- Salty Vanilla

Developed by endurance athletes as a salty alternative to sweet gels

 I was not a fan of this product at all. From the first moment I put the first piece in my mouth all I tasted was salt, no vanilla, just salt. When I finished the pack I quickly downed full my water bottle as a result of dry mouth.

Happy Squeeze- Coco Orange Mango

100% Organic “Super food”, Made with Coconut milk, vitamins and minerals.

As soon as I saw the words coconut milk I became skeptical of the flavor but, I was pleasantly surprised by the great taste.

Eboost- Natural Energy Booster

Drink Mix with green tea, vitamins and nutrients

AeroShot Energy- Air based energy shot.

A quick burst of B vitamins and Caffeine

I liked the concept of an air based energy shot but this one had no effect on me.

PROBAR Bolt- Energy Chews- Strawberry

 Gluten Free Organic energy chews full of electrolytes and complex cabs.

My favorite item in this month’s box, Great taste and quick energy on one of my longer training runs, I will defiantly be looking forward to adding these to my training kit.

Now-A3 Bar- Honey Graham Smores

A great tasting energy bar/ recovery snack jammed with stuff you need to keep you moving.

This Bar defiantly lives up to its description especially with the “Great Tasting” part, I mean the flavor is Honey Graham Smores and it actually taste like it. Thumbs up

 

StrideBox- Runners’ Training Log

 

October Stride Box Review

Chocolate #9- Low Glycemic Index Energy Gel

The only Low Glycemic energy gel on the market is packet with only two ingredients to make it easy to digest.

I tried this product on a longer run, It has a nice taste which made it easier for me to get down then some of the order Gels I've tried.

Nature's Bakery- All Natural Fig Bar

All Natural figs make great fuel for training and running.
This product reminds me of a fig newton cookie but the taste is so much better. Instead of tasting the sugar like this cookie you taste more of the natural flavor of the fruit which I think puts this bar in a category of it's own.

That's It.- All-Natural Fruit Bar

A Great bar full of antioxidants with only 2 ingredients...apples, and cherries.

 

Fluid Performance- Natural Sports Drink

Designed for use during exercise, it's revolutionary formula includes multiple energy sources, bioavailable electrolytes, and great taste.

Honey Stinger- Organic Stinger Waffle

Certified organic waffle sweetened with honey in an easy to carry snack size.

Two thumbs way up on flavor, taste and texture!

Rocktape-Endurance Tape For Athletes

Helps Athletes improve form decrease fatigue through better blood flow.

 

Perform- Pain Relieving Gel

Pain Relief with no Pills. Topical analgesic delivers cooling directly where it hurts

 

StrideBox- Mesh Gear Bag

 

"I Ran This Beach!" Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon Recap

I Ran This Beach!!!

This weekend past weekend I accepted the challenge to run the beach. Not only did I run the mini marathon on Sunday I made it a full weekend and also ran the 5k on Saturday. In this recap I will give my personal options on the Expo, 5k, Mini Marathon as well as the Bling.

The Expo
After a rainy 6 hour drive from Atlanta we headed straight for the host hotel (Marina Inn At Grande Dunes) to pick my race packet and explore the expo. As soon as you enter the Marina Inn you realize why they charge such a high rate to stay there, it was beautiful. Unfortunately I could afford to stay there but it was still nice to look around as I headed down stairs to the expo. There were some slight confusion at the race number pick up. Before the expo the race sent out emails to everyone in the Half Marathon with there bib number on it, so all you had to do was walk you to the counter, give then your bib number and poof your in and out fast. But the number that the race were wrong and you had to go to a different station for them to look up your number, but even after that I still felt like it was rather quick. With this race only being in its fourth year I wasn't expecting much in terms of size and vendors. And I was right but they still had the usual race promoters and official race merchandise vendors and everything a runner needed just encase they forgot to pack something.I must admit that I was slightly disappointed that I couldn't find a decal or magnet with race logo on it but maybe next time. After the expo we headed to North Myrtle Beach to eat at a great local seafood restaurant and  check into our hotel for the night.

Shirts, Bib and Bag

Expo

Eukanuba Coastal 5k
After laying down to rain the night before I was hoping for a clear day in time of the race. The first thing I did after my alarm woke me at 6:45 was check the weather, and it was suppose to rain all weekend. With anticipation of cold rain I dressed with an extra layer underneath. Once I was dressed and ready I ate some Gatorade energy chews (even thou I wasn't every hungry)  and off to the 5k.

It was held on the campus of the Marina Inn and the course was a pretty simple out and by route. The set up was as of a typical 5k, No Corrals, All of the runners hovering around the start line. Yeah of course there were announcements for the non competitive runners to move to towards the back but, who listens to announcements? Right? I hovered as close to the middle of the pack wishing I would have moved closer to the front. After the National Anthem and a short countdown we were off. The first mile I was bobbing and wiving through all of the slower runners but it wasn't until I saw the time on the mile 1 marker did I realize I have the opportunity to PR. So for then to the end of the race I pushed myself to maintain my pace,which was not problem until the last mile. My legs started to feel extremely tired so I tired to switch up my race style to run more on my toes and less on my full foot. It defiantly took the stress off my legs allowing me to finish my fasted mile of the race and brand new shiny PR.

37

481

MICHAEL ANDERSON

FAIRBURN

GA

26

Male

0:22:39

Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon
My alarm went off at 6 am and I did the same routine as the day before but the only difference was, it was raining on the drive to the race. At one point it was raining so hard that we missed the turn and had to drive an extra 3 miles to turn around. On a normal race day missing the turn wouldn't have been such a big deal but today we were running late so, those extra 3 miles to make a u-turn seemed like an extra 12 or 13 miles. When I arrived at the starting line the rain stopped and I barely had enough time to locate a pace group before the National Anthem finished and the countdown ended to start the race.

The first four mile were great. I didn't really pay attention to the times on the mile markers, I just focus in on the bright yellow shirt the 8 minute mile pacer was wearing and zoned out to my playlist. I knew that choosing the 8 min pacer was a long shot especially since I have never ran a sub 2 hour Half Marathon but after my PR in the 5k I may have been a little over confident.

Around mile 5 the pacer was stating to put some distances between us, lucky one of the guys that was also running with the pacer was falling behind as well. Mile 6-8 were uneventful but we still maintain a good pace, and my legs still felt fresh. A little bit out after the 8 mile marker I ripped open a gel and downed it. Yuck man I hate the texture of those things but the usual seem to work. Mile 8-13 are advertised as oceanfront running but it seemed to be more like oceanfront house running with a couple of miles of clear ocean views.
By this time of the race it started to warm up a bit but it was still overcast that made me feel like the rain could start at any moment.

During the last 4 miles me and my newly found running buddy play leap frog motivating each other to keep up our pace. My legs were felt like I was running through mud and my stomach was killing me even since I took that gel but I knew I only had a couple of miles left and I wasn't about to slow down when I am so close to another PR in the same weekend. In between mile 12 and 13 was the turn to the boardwalk and the sun literally popped out from behind the clouds. That was Que to thank my running partner and try to pick up my pace to  as close to a sprint as possible to get the best time. I cross the finish line with a quick fist pump for the cameras as I peered up at the time that read 1:49:04. My last Half Marathon I ran a time of 2:17:04 so I didn't just PR I CRUSHED my previous time by almost 30 min.

306

141

MICHAEL ANDERSON

FAIRBURN

GA

26

Male

1:48:48

Finish Line on the Boardwalk

Awesome Medals